Mine-car safety device



July 28,: 1925.

R. WINTERS ET AL MINE CAR SAFETY DEVICE Filed Oct. 24' 1924 ATTORNEY.

July 28, 1925. 1,547,990

R. WINTERS ET AL MINE CAR SAFETY DEVICE Filed 001.. 24 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORG Jioert fiintelv BY A ATTORNEY.

Patented July 28, 1925.

{PATENT Y OFFICE.

RO BERTI WINTERS AND CHARLES M. SAlV IUELS, O'F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MINE-(JAR SAFETY DEVICE.

Application filed October 24, 1924. Serial Ito 745,619.

To all whom v' may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT WINTERS and CHAnLns M. SAMUELs, citizens of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin MineCar Safety Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety devices for use in connection with chain transportation systems, which are in common use in large mines such as coal, copper and silver mines.

The primary object of this invention is the pro-vision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a device adaptedto come into play instantly when a break occurs in'the chain circuit which is acting to pull atrain of cars up an inclined surface from the mine. i V

It is well knownthat in certain mines the ore is removed in cars which are pulled up a steep incline to the mouth of the mine where the cars are dumped and returned by,

way of another track into the mine and, in

order to keep the filled and emptied cars moving continuously, at hauling chain is used which describes a loop, one end of the loop being located in the mlne and the other at the mouth thereof, and the chain is caused to pass over drive pulleys and that side of the chain loop moving up the incline has connected therewith cars loaded with ore.

while the other side of the loop which moves downwardly and into the mine carries back with it empty ore cars. It often happens that this chain circuit breaks because of the unusual strain under which it works, and unless some safety means is provided by which the broken chain can be instantly caught, both the loaded and unloaded cars will be released and will run wild back down the incline, causing great destruction and financial loss. It is the object of this invention to provide means whereby this chain line will be caught should a break occur, thus holding the cars from gravitating back down the incline.

The mechanism embodying this invention comprises an arch structure extending over the chain line, and this arch structure carries a mechanism through which the chain passes freely when the loop is complete and continues to move in the proper direction but, should the chain line become broken,

the mechanism will come into play and lock the chain, thus preventing retrograde movement thereof. 1

Another object of this invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, ofa. chain transportation system safety device of simple construction, quick and positive inaction, strong, durable, and inexpensive to set up.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

- In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows in elevation a chain transportation system'of the general type in connection with which the mechanism embodying this invention is adapted tojbe used, the position of the safety mechanism being conventionally shown at the head of the incline.

Figure 2 is a section taken upon the line 2-2 of Figure 6, showing that portion of the mechanism controlling the up-grade moving portion of the transportation line.

Figure 3 is a section taken upon the line 3-3 of Figure 6, showing the mechanism which controls the down-grade moving portion of the chain line.

Figure 4 is a frontportion of the showing of Figure 3. r a

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the showing of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a View looking down the in cline through the arch which supports the safety mechanism.

Figure 7 is a top plan View of a portion at 1, an endless chain line which describes 1 an aperture 19.

an elongated loop, one end of which loop passes about power pulleys 2, which are housed in a. power house 3 located at the head of an incline trackway 4 which leads from the interior of a mine (not indicated). The lower loop of the chain 1 passes about rollers 5 which are located at the foot of the incline, within a mine from which ore is to be taken.

Each long side of the chain loop 1 runs parallel with and above track lines 6 and 7 respectively, the track line 6 will be designated the upgrade track, and the track line 7 the down-grade track, the transportation chain 1 moving in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 7. Ore cars 8 of any desired construction travel upon these tracks 6 and 7, and each of the ore cars carries an upwardly extending fork 9, in which the power chain 1 engages both upon the up and down circuits to move the cars in the desired direction.

The mechanism embodying this invention is supported above the chain 1, both sides of the loop, and to support the same in position there is provided an arch formed of a pair of upright eye beams 10 and upper and lower cross connecting beams 11 and 12, respectively. As shown in the drawings, the cross beams 11 and 12 are preferably a channel beam and an angle beam, the channel beam extending across between the upright beams 10 at the upper ends thereof and the angle beam 12 being spaced beneath the channel beam 11, and the back of the channel beam 11 and one side of the angle beam 12 are in the same plane as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Secured to the back of the channel beam 11 is a plate 13 which carries a pair of bracket members 14 and 15 respectively, the bracket 14 extending directly outwardly from the longitudinal center of the plate and terminating in a bearing 16, while the bracket 15, is substantially triangular in shape, one of the right angle sides being positioned horizontally above the cross beam 11, and terminating at its outer corner in an upwardly extending supporting arm 17 which has its upper end bifurcated as at 18 and each of the furcations is provided with This plate member 13 is secured against the back of the channel iron 11 above the downwardly traveling side of the chain loop 1.

Secured against the back of the channel iron 11 above the upwardly traveling side of the chain loop 1, is a second plate 20 which carries an outwardly extending bracket 21 which bracket terminates in a bearing 22 similar to the bearing 16 carried by the bracket 14. These bearings 16 and 22 are in alignment, and support in the intervening space a shaft 23 adapted to revolve therein.

Secured to the shaft 23 adjacent the bearing 22 as indicated in Figure 5, is a collar 24 having extending therefrom a relatively long downwardly curving locking finger 25, which finger is bifurcated at its terminal end to provide the furcations 26. Thisbifurcated finger 25 is positioned directly above the up traveling side of the chain loop 1, and as shown in Figures 2 and 5, when down in chain locking position the furcations engage one on either side of a vertically positioned link of the chain to hold the same in a manner to be hereinafter described.

At the other end of the shaft 23, adjacent the bearing 16 there is secured to the shaft a collar 27 carrying an outwardly extending arm 28, which has an aperture 29 in its outer end portion.

Centrally pivoted between the furcations 18 of the arm 17 is a rocker beam or arm 30, one end of which has an aperture 31 through which there is engaged one end of a spiral spring 32, the other end of the spring being engaged in the aperture 29 of the outwardly extending arm 28. The other end of the rocker arm is also apertured and is pivotally secured between the bifurcated end 33 of a depending link 34, the lower end of which link is provided with a ring 35 which engages the upper end of and supports a relatively long broad and flat chain locking plate member 36. The flanges of the channel beam 11 are each provided with a longitudinally extending slot 37 in which this chain locking plate 36 rides, as shown in Figure 3, and the upper or flat side of the angle beam 12 is likewise provided with a longitudinally extending slot 38 which is in alignment with the slot 37 and is adapted to allow the'plate 36 to pass therethrough under proper conditions. The plate 36, as shown in Figure 8, is provided adjacent its central portion with a longitudinally extending aperture, the upper part of which is relatively wide as indicated at 39, and the lower portion is constricted as at 40.

In the showings of the drawings, the de- I tail views in particular show the safety device in operating or chain engaging position, the bifurcated finger 25 being down and straddling one of the links of the chain line 1, and the plate 36 being raised, with one of the chain links of the line passing there-through being engaged in the constricted portion 40 of the plate 36. Under normal conditions this plate 36 is lowered so that the chain will pass freely through the enlarged portion 39 of the aperture therein, and when the plate is down in this position, the spring engaging end of the rocker beam 30 will be raised as will also the arm 28, and the bifurcated finger 25 will be swung outwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2, to allow the chain 1 to ridefreely thereunder.

Secured on either side of the angle beam 12 beneath the bracket 21 is a pair of oppositely extending arms 41 and 42, respectively, each being bifurcated at its outer end, as indicated at 43, and between each of these bifurcated ends there is p'ivota'lly positioned a pulley 44 over which the upgoing side of the chain line 1 travels.

The arm 42 is provided at its center with an enlarged portion 45' which enlarged portion is hollowed out and opened upwardly to form the pocket 46. The rear of this pocket is vertically walled, whereas the forward portion curves gradually upward from the base thereof, and the lower end of the bifurcated finger 25 is adapted to swing down into the pocketwhen the device operates to check any back movement of the chain, and when the finger is in lowered chain gripping position, it abuts and is checked from further movement by the vertical rear wall of the pocket, as shown in Figure 2.

The outer end of the arm 42 is provided with the yoke 47, which curves over the pulley 44 and through which the chain 1 must pass. This prevents the chain from jumpin off of the pulley when broken.

'Tositioned beneath the bracket 15 at the other end of the cross beam 12, is a right angularly eXtending'a-rm 48 upon the same side as the arm 41 and of the same type, this arm 48 being provided at i-ts outer end with furcations 49 between which there is pivotally secured a pulley 50. Over this pulley the down traveling side of the chain loop 1 must pass. Any proper brace means may be used to properly retain the structure in position, leaning brace irons 51 here being shown'upon the down grade side of the arch, and the lower end of the uprightbeams 10 are embedded in cement bases, as indi-' cated at 52. However,any desired method may be used for maintaining the mechanism in position above the chain line 1.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The transportation chain 1 is endless, as 7 shown in Figure 7 passing about pulleys 2 at the head of the grade leading from a mine, at one end, and at the other end passing about pulleys 5 which are at the lower end of the grade. The up. traveling side of the chain 1 passes over the pulleys 44 between the beams 11 and 12, as shown in Figure 2, and rides under the bifurcatedfinger 25, while the down going side of the chain passes between the beams 11 and 12 and through the space 39 of the plate 36, and

over the pulley 50 which is positioned upon the down grade side of the supporting arch.

Should a break occur in the chain line 1, say between the pulleys 2 atthe head of the grade, the loaded cars 8 which would be upright link of the chain line, as shown in dot-ted position in Figure '2, and when so moved it will revolve the shaft 23 drawing the 'arm 28 violently downward which through the medium of the spring 32 and n the rocker arm '30 will draw the plate 36 up thus causing one of the vertical links of the chain-to engage in the constricted aperture 40 in the plate. It will be readily seen that an effective check will be given to the retrograde movement of the chain 1 on both sides; of the incline, thus saving the cars from destruction. The spring 32 which connects the rocker arm 30 with the lower arm 28 acts to prevent the breaking of the arm 30 when the violent motion is imparted thereto through the revolving .of the shaft and the downward movement of the arm 28. This safety mechanism may also be used to advantage in connection with large mines where the ore is brought through vertical shafts to the surface of the earth on elevators and upon reaching the surface the endless chain system will pick up the cars and transport them from the elevator to the ore cr-ushers or the place where they are dumped. Having thus described our invention what we claim is:

'1. In a chain transportation system comprising an endless chain loop adapted to move loaded vehicles up an incline on one side and empty vehicles down an incline on the other side, a safety device comprising, a supporting arch" extending over said loop, a revoluble shaft carried by said arch over said chain, and a locking member carried by said shaft adapted to lock the chain upon retrograde movement after breakage thereof.

2. In a chain transportation system comprising an endless chain loop adapted to move loaded vehicles up an incline on one side and empty vehicles down an incline on the other side, a safety device, comprising asupporting arch extending over said loop, a revoluble shaft carried by said arch across said chain, a bifurcated locking finger upon said shaft above the up moving side of the loop, an actuating arm on said shaft above the down moving side of the loop, and means for locking the down moving side of the loop through the agency of 'said finger and shaft, upon breakage of the chain, said finger acting to lock, against retrograde movement, the normally up moving side of the chain.

3. In a chain transportation system comprising an endless chain loop adapted to move loaded vehicles up an incline on one side and empty vehicles down an incline on the other side, a safety device comprising, a supporting arch extending over said loop, a revoluble shaft carried by said arch over said chain, a locking member carried by said shaft adapted to lock the chain upon retrograde movement after breakage thereof, and chain supporting guide means carried by said arch beneath said locking member.

4. In a chain transportation system comprising an endless chain loop adapted to move loaded vehicles up an incline on one side and empty vehicles down an incline on the other side, a safety device, comprising a supporting arch extending over said loop, a revoluble shaft carried by said arch across said chain, a bifurcated locking finger upon said shaft above the up moving side of the loop, an actuating arm on said shaft above the down moving side of the loop, an upstanding arm supported by said arch adjacent said actuating arm, a centrally pivoted rocker arm supported by said upstanding arm, a resilient connection between one end of said rocker arm and the end of said actuating arm,'and means depending from the other end of said rocker arm adapted to act to lock the adjacent side of said chain, said bifurcated finger, upon breakage and retrograde movement of the up moving side of the loop, swinging downwardly to lock the same simultaneously operating the lock ing mechanism at the other end of the shaft to check the down moving side of the loop.

5. In a chain transportation system comprising an endless chain loop adapted to move loaded vehicles up an incline on one side and empty vehicles down an incline on the other side, a safety device, comprising an arch having a pair of spaced parallel superposed beams, said chain loop passing therebetween, a revoluble shaft carried from the upper beam across both sides of said loop, a downwardly extending bifurcated finger carried by the shaft above the up moving side of the loop, a vertically shiftable plate member having an aperture therethrough for the passage of the down mov ing side of the loop, said aperture being constricted at its lower portion, and means connecting said plate and finger whereby, upon breakage of the chain, the finger will drop to lock the chain therebeneath and the plate will be raised to lock the chain passing therethrough, in said constricted por tion.

6. In a chain transportation system comprising an endless chain loop adapted to move loaded vehicles up an incline on one side and empty vehicles down an incline on the other side, a safety device, comprising an arch having a pair of spaced parallel superposed beams, said chain loop passing therebetween, a revoluble shaft carried from the upper beam across both sides of said loop, a downwardly extending bifurcated finger carried by the shaft above the up moving'side of the loop, a vertically shiftable plate member having an aperture therethrough for the passage of the down moving side of the loop, said aperture being constricted at its lower portion, and means connecting said plate and finger whereby, upon breakage of the chain, the finger will drop to lock the chain therebeneath and the plate will be raised to lock the chain passing therethrough, in said constricted portion, said upper beam being slotted to provide a bracing guideway for the passage of said plate.

7. In a chain transportation system comprising an endless chain loop adapted to move loaded vehicles up an incline on one side and empty vehicles down an incline on the other side, a safety device, comprising an arch having a pair of spaced parallel superposed beams, said chain loop passing therebetween, a revoluble shaft carried from the upper beam across both sides of said loop, a downwardly extending bifurcated finger carried by the shaft above the up moving side of the loop, a vertically shiftable plate member having an aperture therethrough for the passage of the down moving side of the loop, said aperture being constricted at its lower portion, and means connecting said plate and finger whereby, upon breakage of the chain, the finger will drop to lock the chain therebeneath and the plate will be raised to lock the chain passing therethrough, in said constricted portion, right angularly extending arms carried by said lower beam beneath each side of said loop, and a pulley at the outer end of each arm over which said chain passes.

8. In a chain transportation system comprising an endless chain loop adapted to move loaded vehicles up an incline on one side and empty vehicles down an incline on the other side, a safety device, comprising an arch having a pair of spaced parallel superposed beams, said chain loop passing therebetween, a revoluble shaft carried from the upper beam across both sides of said loop, a downwardly extending bifurcated finger carried by the shaft above the up moving side of the loop, a vertically shiftable plate member having an aperture therethrough for the passage of the down moving side of the loop, said aperture being constricted at its lower portion, means connecting said plate and finger whereby, upon breakage of the chain, the finger will drop to lock the chain therebeneath and the plate will be raised to lock the chain passing therethrough, in said constricted portion,

right angularly extending arms carried by bifurcated finger when the same swings said lower beam beneath each side of said downwardly to lock the chain.

loop, and a pulley at the outer end of each In testimony whereof, we afiix our signa- 10 arm over which said chain passes, that arm tures hereto.

extending between the up moving side of the loop and the bifurcated finger, having ROBERT WINTERS.

a pocket therein to receive the end of the CHARLES M. SAMUELS. 

